Eager for warmer weather, consumers are ready to embrace all things spring! St. Patrick’s Day is the first holiday of the year that consumers associate with spring, making it the perfect source of inspiration for limited time offers (LTOs). Holidays give consumers a reason to celebrate, and they have been seeking out small, but fun and meaningful ways to acknowledge holidays as a means of shaking up their routines.
Brands can capitalize on consumers’ anticipation for spring and desires to celebrate each passing holiday by introducing LTOs inspired by St. Patrick’s Day. In this blog, we offer our experts’ advice on how brands can use flavor and color to create exciting LTOs in the spirit of this beloved spring holiday.
Highlight the Hallmarks of the Holiday
In the age of social media, everyone loves a good theme. While vibrant green colors, leprechauns, shamrocks, and pots of gold may seem too obvious for LTO innovation, consumers are obsessed with products that allow them to celebrate what sets a certain holiday or season apart. Embracing the hallmarks of St. Patrick’s Day when crafting LTOs is just the ticket for appealing to trend-conscious consumers – and generating buzz on social media.
The green and gold color palette of St. Patrick’s Day can serve as a starting point for LTO innovation. Brands shouldn’t shy away from incorporating these vibrant colors into products in unexpected ways, as consumers love showing off colorful, aesthetically pleasing foods and beverages on social media.
Spotlight Spring Flavors
Given that St. Patrick’s Day is the first sign of spring, it presents the perfect opportunity to innovate with flavors and ingredients that are practically synonymous with springtime. Remind
consumers of the fresh ingredients they look forward to every spring by spotlighting flavors inspired by spring produce and botanicals, like mint, radishes, tarragon, strawberries, asparagus, lavender, and more.
Consumers are going to be highly anticipating the return of their favorite sweet seasonal specialties, making these treats an ideal source of inspiration for LTOs. Think carrot cake ice cream, strawberry rhubarb popcorn, and pineapple upside down cupcakes.
Embrace Irish Cuisine
Consumers have been fixated on exploring the world through food for quite some time now, and in recent years, they’ve been gravitating towards European cuisines. Initially overlooked for more exotic options, consumers are coming to appreciate the comforting flavors, dishes, and ingredients that make up many European cuisines, including Irish cuisine.
In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, brands should consider putting the spotlight on traditional Irish dishes and ingredients. Think corned beef and cabbage, potato and leek soup, shepherd’s pie, and soda bread. Beyond its comforting dishes, Ireland is also well-known for its beer selection. Incorporating the flavors of popular Irish beverages into anything from snacks and dairy to sauces and baked goods will make for an irresistible Irish-themed St. Patrick’s Day LTO. Think Irish cream muffins, malted stout dip, and Irish beer cheese pretzels.
Culivision Insight: Irish Beef Stew
Perhaps the most popular and recognizable Irish dish, beef stew is beloved for its warm, comforting flavors. Ideal for spring weather that’s not quite warm yet, this traditional Irish dish can serve as inspiration for a craveable St. Patrick’s Day LTO. Foodservice, soup, and frozen food companies should consider adding Irish stew to their offerings in springtime, while snack, sauce, and protein companies can draw inspiration from the flavors of this classic dish for an early springtime LTO.
Our sister company, Bart Ingredients, which is headquartered in the United Kingdom, shares their signature Irish Stew recipe, which is perfect for appealing to consumers who are looking for an
authentic dish to acknowledge St. Patrick’s Day. As their recipe describes, this traditional Irish dish is crafted with high-quality braising steak, slow cooked for three hours until tender and falling apart. Flavored with Bart’s rich umami paste, thyme, and bay leaf, it’s a hearty and warming meal, perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any cold evening. Find the full recipe here.
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